Definition: mordecai

Source: Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's)

Mordecai, contrition; bitter; bruising

Source: Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Mordecai
   the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. It has been alleged
   that he was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, and hence that
   he must have been at least one hundred and twenty-nine years old
   in the twelfth year of Ahasuerus (Xerxes). But the words of
   Esther do not necessarily lead to this conclusion. It was
   probably Kish of whom it is said (ver. 6) that he "had been
   carried away with the captivity."
   
     He resided at Susa, the metropolis of Persia. He adopted his
   cousin Hadassah (Esther), an orphan child, whom he tenderly
   brought up as his own daughter. When she was brought into the
   king's harem and made queen in the room of the deposed queen
   Vashti, he was promoted to some office in the court of
   Ahasuerus, and was one of those who "sat in the king's gate"
   (Esther 2:21). While holding this office, he discovered a plot
   of the eunuchs to put the king to death, which, by his
   vigilance, was defeated. His services to the king in this matter
   were duly recorded in the royal chronicles.
   
     Haman (q.v.) the Agagite had been raised to the highest
   position at court. Mordecai refused to bow down before him; and
   Haman, being stung to the quick by the conduct of Mordecai,
   resolved to accomplish his death in a wholesale destruction of
   the Jewish exiles throughout the Persian empire (Esther 3:8-15).
   Tidings of this cruel scheme soon reached the ears of Mordecai,
   who communicated with Queen Esther regarding it, and by her wise
   and bold intervention the scheme was frustrated. The Jews were
   delivered from destruction, Mordecai was raised to a high rank,
   and Haman was executed on the gallows he had by anticipation
   erected for Mordecai (6:2-7:10). In memory of the signal
   deliverance thus wrought for them, the Jews to this day
   celebrate the feast (9:26-32) of Purim (q.v.).